Planning Assistance Program

Who can Apply?
The Safe Routes To School Planning Assistance Program is for small or resource-poor elementary and middle schools, school districts, non-profit organizations, and communities. State, local, and regional agencies, including non-profit organizations, that demonstrate an ability to meet the SRTS requirements, may apply for funding for schools that provide education for students between the Kindergarten and eighth grade levels.

The intent of the program is to provide the applicant with technical resources needed to plan and implement their own Safe Routes To School projects. As a condition of the program, the applicant will apply for the next cycle of Safe Routes To School infrastructure and/or non-infrastructure funding.

Note: This is not a program to improve school pick-up/drop-off areas for the benefit of cars and buses; This is not a program to construct only sidewalks. All of the benefits of the variety of programs and projects ultimately recommended by you and the consultant will be for the safety and walking/biking convenience of elementary and middle school students.

Services available
If your application is selected, ADOT will enlist the services of a consultant for you. The consultant may recommend that you receive some of the following services:

• Conduct site/needs assessments of school areas,
• Develop school walking and bicycling route plans and maps,
• Recommend infrastructure solutions and locations,
• Recommend and provide guidance for non-infrastructure solutions,
• Develop school bicycle/pedestrian education, enforcement, encouragement programs,
• Conduct pre- and post- program/project evaluations,
• Conduct Safe Routes To School training sessions and community meetings,
• Provide grant writing assistance for next SRTS grant application

Applicant responsibilities
The applicant will provide assistance to the consultant in writing the Safe Routes To School grant.  If our request is for infrastructure funding (i.e., engineering, construction), these items will require the approval of our appropriate public works, engineering, and/or transportation professionals BEFORE we begin the application.

If your Safe Routes To School Planning Assistance request is selected, the Safe Routes project described within will be submitted for consideration for possible additional funding through the regular Safe Routes To School funding cycle.  If the project is selected, it could result in additional commitments of time and resources by the applicant.

Scoring
All applications for Planning Assistance will be judged on the applicant’s true need.

Awards
In early March 2008, we will select and notify one qualified applicant.